Engine Service

At Kotter's VW Service, we take pride in offering you the highest quality Volkswagen services. We pay close, personal attention to your concerns, and we take time to answer any questions you may have.

With only one shop, we cannot provide excellent services on all brands. That's why we focus on just Volkswagens. In fact, stop by the office today and you'll see nothing but Volkswagens everywhere!

Modern day fuel injection systems are very durable, but do not last forever. Fuel Pumps can become noisy and lose proper pressure over time. Injectors can become clogged reducing fuel economy and cause rough running and stalling.

Just realize how many thousands of gallons of fuel go through your fuel filter in 20 – 30 thousand miles, so don’t forget to have us replace your fuel filter often. If your car dies, it might be a fuel pump problem. Whether your car is a diesel, TDI or any other year or model of VW bring it in and let us diagnose it for you.

If you drive an older car with a carburetor or even dual carbs, we have been specializing in these for over 30 years. We can tune or rebuild your carb (carbs)

today.

2019-05-16

This one is of utmost importance. Why? If your timing belt breaks or if the belts teeth strip out then internal parts of your engine (pistons & valves) will collide and cause catastrophic damage to your engine costing thousands of dollars.

We at Kotter's recommend doing your timing belt between 60K and 75K miles depending on your engine type. (Yes, we do TDI and diesel.) Be aware however, that not just the timing belt can fail, there are tensioners & rollers and even the water pump that the timing belt wraps around.

If any of these other parts fail then you will end up with the same catastrophic results. Don’t be fooled by cheap prices to just do the belt. This could be a huge mistake. Here at Kotter's, when we do a timing belt job, the price will always include all tensioners and rollers.

Sometimes we will recommend replacing the water pump at the same time, because the water pump is located under the timing belt. You also have accessory drive belts that operate your alternator, power steering and air conditioning. These belts are exposed and might need replacing more often. Make an appointment today and let us inspect your belts.

The power steering pump pumps special fluid through your power steering rack making your car very easy to steer. The pump, belts, hoses, reservoirs and the power steering rack make up this system. Over time the fluid can break down or leak out.

Your engines cooling system is the most vital part of your car’s operation. Without it the engine’s temperature would reach devastating levels of heat within minutes, so it needs to be properly maintained. Any kind of leak over time can cause air to be “trapped” in the system, preventing it from functioning properly.

So pay attention to fluid levels under your car hood or blinking coolant lights. Just adding water is not a good idea either. VW’s need special coolant that lubricates and prevents corrosion. There are hoses, belts, radiators, pumps, fans and electronic switches that make your cooling system cool your engine properly.

Don’t overheat or burn up your engine. An ounce of prevention is cheaper than a pound of cure. Let Kotter's VW Service diagnose your cooling system problem today before it’s too late! Are you hot and sticky? We also do A/C service and repair. Make an appointment today!

The turbo is an amazing part of your engine. It uses free exhaust pressure to force more air into your engine, increasing the power. They spin at 10,000 rpm (rotations per minute). The turbo is lubricated by your engines oiling system, so frequent oil changes on a turbo charged car is extremely important.

Synthetic oil is a good choice for a turbo engine. However just like anything else, turbos can wear out over time causing loss of power and acceleration. If your turbo equipped VW doesn’t have the zip it once did, then maybe a new one is in order. We at Kotter's offer excellent prices on brand new and rebuilt turbos. Yes we do TDI’s and diesels. Call today for an evaluation.

You need an oil change every 3-5 thousand miles. Seems simple, Right? (Wrong) Every engine these days requires special oil designed and formulated specifically for its application. Using the wrong oil can cause premature engine wear costing thousands of dollars.

Are you taking your VW to a “quickielube” shop? This could be a huge mistake. We have replaced dozens of oil pans due to overtightening or stripping of drain plugs done by amateurs. Those guys just change oil. We here at Kotter's carry over a dozen different kinds of oils and fluids, so we can choose the correct type of oil and properly maintain your VW.

O2 or Oxygen sensors are located in our exhaust system. Most cars have at least one, some have two and some V-6 or V-8 equipped cars have 4. They are located in the exhaust system, usually one before and one after the catalytic converter.

Their function is to sense exhaust gases and determine if the fuel system is too rich or too lean and send a signal to the computer to correct the problem. When they fail, all kinds of problems can occur like poor gas mileage, rough running, hard starting and check engine lights.

When we here at Kotter's VW diagnose weak or bad o2 sensors, we only replace them with the original equipment brand BOSCH. Too rich of a fuel system can cause your catalytic converter to fail. Most VW’s catalytic converters can cost $1000 or more to replace. If any of these symptoms are occurring with your VW, call now and make an appointment. Don’t waste your gas and don’t ruin your catalytic converter.

What is a major service? Well, you change your oil every 3-5 thousand miles, right? But depending on the year, model and mileage of your VW, you might need a fuel filter, an air filter or cabin filter (this is for the air you breathe inside the car).

We’ve seen these on cars with 50 to 100 thousand miles that have never been changed. (Nasty) They look like rats nests. Please don’t breathe dirty air! Spark plugs are usually done at 40 thousand miles, plus we inspect belts, brakes, hoses, all fluids, steering components and drive axles.

Doing a major service every 40,000 miles will make your VW last longer and perform better. (Improved gas mileage) And remember if your VW has a warranty, it is required to have timely services done and F.Y.I. you don’t have to go to the dealer for this service. You just have to have proof that it was done on time. Call Kotter's today to fill your major service needs.